Taiwanese fish products purchased by Chinese hospital

Staff writer, with CNA, BEIJING

Taiwanese fish products have been purchased by a maternity hospital in Beijing, China, to be served as postpartum-care meals.

The groupers, bred in Pingtung County, have been certified both by the Council of Agriculture and the Pingtung County Government, helping ensure product quality, Bao Dao Healthcare vice president Chiang Li-mong (姜禮盟) said.

Patients who stay at the hospital for postpartum care can feel safer and healthier consuming fish from Taiwan, as much of the seafood produced in China is not accompanied by health and safety reports, Chiang said.

A Chinese citizen, Li Jingzheng (李靜正), said she was considering sending her daughter to the maternity hospital for postpartum care.

“Taiwan’s healthcare is more advanced than that in China and food from Taiwan seems to be of better quality,” she said.

Before being transported to China, the groupers are first processed in Taiwan, using rapid freeze technology that retains their freshness, Pingtung breeder Chen Yi-rui (陳怡如) said .

Every fish bears a QR code, which allows customers to access its production information by scanning the code with their smartphones, Chen said.

Bao Dao Healthcare, which was opened in August last year, is the first maternity hospital jointly funded by Taiwan and China.

It aims to introduce Taiwanese medical expertise to China and help supplement obstetric services in the Chinese capital, where maternity-care resources are in short supply.